Concerned government agencies are providing assistance to local government units (LGUs) in the continued decampment of the remaining internally displaced persons (IDPs) after Mt. Kanlaon’s status has been lowered to Alert Level 2.
In an interview on Monday, Regional Director Donato Sermeno III of the Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) said that while groups of IDPs in La Castellana, Negros Occidental and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental have been returning home since last week, there are still those who have yet to leave the evacuation centers.
He said a number of families in the cities of Bago and La Carlota have yet to return home as well.
“The decampment continues,” Sermento said.
Data from the La Castellana Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office showed that there are still 61 families or 213 individuals staying in four evacuation centers.
In a report, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) said personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health have been conducting site visits in evacuation centers since Aug. 1.
“For those whose houses were damaged or lost, relocation efforts are currently underway. To support the transition, government trucks and other available vehicles have been mobilized to help transport evacuees and their belongings back to their communities,” it added.
The RDRRMC said “a restoration initiative is being planned to support the recovery and rebuilding of affected areas through collaborative efforts.”
On July 29, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology lowered the status of Kanlaon Volcano to Alert Level 2 (moderate level of volcanic unrest), from Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest/high level of volcanic unrest).
The downgrading of the volcano’s alert status led the affected LGUs to prepare for the decampment of the IDPs whose houses are located outside the four-kilometer permanent danger zone.
They have been staying in evacuation centers following the series of explosions in December last year. (PNA)